Astilbe Companion Planting: Companion Plants For Astilbe

Astilbe is a fantastic plant to have in your flower garden. A perennial that’s hardy from USDA zone 3 through 9, it will grow for years even in climates with very cold winters. Even better, it actually prefers shade and acidic soil, meaning it’ll bring life and color to a part of your garden that might be hard to fill. But what else can go in those spaces with it? Keep reading to learn about astilbe companion planting and plants that grow well with astilbe.

Plants That Grow Well With Astilbe

Astilbe likes dappled shade and acidic soil, so finding plants that grow well with astilbe means finding plants with similar soil and light requirements. Since it has such a broad hardiness range, choosing companion plants for astilbe also means choosing plants that will survive your winters. For instance, good astilbe companion plants in zone 9 may not be good astilbe companion plants in zone 3.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to put astilbe with plants that begin to flower around the time it fades. Arendsii astilbe tends to bloom in late spring and early summer, while most other varieties bloom in mid to late summer. After it’s done blooming, astilbe will wither and brown and won’t blossom again, even with deadheading. Since it’s a perennial, though, you can’t just pull it out! Plant companion plants for astilbe that will overshadow it with impressive new flowers when it starts to die back.

Ideas for Astilbe Companion Plants

There are quite a few plants that meet these astilbe companion planting qualifications. Rhododendrons, azaleas, and hostas all prefer shade and grow in a very wide range of hardiness zones.

Coral bells are a relative of astilbe and have more or less identical planting requirements. Some other plants whose blooming times and growing needs work well with astilbe include: